I DETROIT I
One Hundred Years
For Beth Abraham
KIMBERLY LIFTON
Staff Writer
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16
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1992
hen he was a small
child, Irving
Nusbaum lived on
Dexter in Detroit and at-
tended weekly services at
then Congregation Beth Ab-
raham.
"I remember the per-
sonalities," says Mr.
Nusbaum, now semi-retired
from New York Carpet
World, the business his
father, Abe, founded.
Mr. Nusbaum spent much
time at the synagogue, get-
ting to know people like
Louis Ellenbogan, among
the synagogue's early presi-
dents, and Jacob Langarten,
who "was a shammes, but not
just a shammes. He ran the
shul."
Mr. Nusbaum was one of
several panelists discussing
personal histories at a recent
program commemorating
the 100th anniversary of
Congregation Beth Abra-
ham Hillel Moses.
Today's Beth Abraham
Hillel Moses stands at Maple
Road between Middlebelt
and Inkster. It has grown to
a congregation of over 700
families from a small mi-
nyan-like atmosphere in a
private home on Hastings
Street near Winder in
Detroit.
The first building was on
Winder, where 50 families
joined. Shortly after, the
congregation moved to
Palmer Street. In 1933, they
moved to Linwood, where
the congregation remained
until 1951. The current loca-
tion was built in 1971.
Although a fire destroyed
a good part of the West
Bloomfield congregation in
1983, the congregation has
emerged stronger than ever,
maintaining a healthy
membership base, reputable
Hebrew school program and
myriad family programs.
"The merging of Beth
Abraham, Beth Hillel and
Beth Moses was beneficial for
everyone," said Rabbi A.
Irving Schnipper. "Today,
we are able to maintain a
moderate, traditional syn-
agogue."
Throughout this year, the
synagogue will host special
events commemorating its
birthday. The calendar is
planned so each event is
geared toward the anniver-
sary.
Next on the agenda is the
Feb. 13 Intercongregational
Men's Club Dinner. And on
March 14, the synagogue
will host a cabaret night
with karaoke.
The year's anniversary
celebration will end with a
Chanukah party and dinner
on Dec. 24.
The congregation has one
of the oldest synagogue
histories in Detroit. Temple
Beth El was founded in
1850. Shaarey Zedek began
in 1890. Next came Beth Ab-
raham, the forerunner to the
current congregation. B'nai
David also will soon
celebrate its 100th birthday.
The history began on May
10, 1892, when a small
group of Austrian and Gali-
cian immigrant Jews filed
articles of association with
the Wayne County Clerk
under the name Beth Abra-
ham. Today Conservative, it
began as a strict Orthodox
congregation.
Beth El had been founded
by German Jews as Or-
thodox in 1850 and became
Reform in 1861. Dissident
members then withdrew and
formed Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, at the time
Orthodox. With the influx of
Polish and Russian Jews,
Shaarey Zedek became Con-
servative by 1890.
The first Beth Abraham
services were held on the se-
cond floor of a private home
at 44 Hastings Street, near
Jefferson. Shortly after, the
congregation moved into a
three-room flat above a store
on Hastings, between
Adelaide and Winder.
In 1907, the congregation
dedicated its first building,
at 235 Winder St. between
Hastings and St. Antoine.
Today, membership is
thriving. Rabbi Schnipper
serves as the spiritual
leader, working closely with
the congregation's first
assistant rabbi, Aaron
Bergman, who was hired
last year. ❑
Beth El Cantor
Is HUC Scholar
Temple Beth El's Cantor
Gail Hirschenfang has been
named cantorial scholar in
residence at the Hebrew
Union College in Cincinnati,
for the week beginning Feb.
2.
Cantor Hirschenfang will
teach seminars as well as
conduct religious services.
She'll also be lecturing on
the specific challenges a
woman must face in syn-
agogue life.
K
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